U.S. patent number 7,743,972 [Application Number 11/174,232] was granted by the patent office on 2010-06-29 for carton with dispenser.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Graphic Packaging International, Inc.. Invention is credited to James C. Fogle.
United States Patent |
7,743,972 |
Fogle |
June 29, 2010 |
Carton with dispenser
Abstract
A carton comprises a divider panel that connects a front panel
of the carton to a back panel. The lower edge of the divider panel
is offset from the bottom panel, and therefore is less likely to
buckle or bend when the carton is subjected to axial compression.
The divider panel therefore provides greater axial stiffness and
strength to the carton.
Inventors: |
Fogle; James C. (Marietta,
GA) |
Assignee: |
Graphic Packaging International,
Inc. (Marietta, GA)
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Family
ID: |
37136650 |
Appl.
No.: |
11/174,232 |
Filed: |
July 1, 2005 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20070000982 A1 |
Jan 4, 2007 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
229/120.18;
221/305; 229/122.1; 229/242; 221/302; 229/122 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
71/36 (20130101); B65D 2571/0058 (20130101); B65D
2571/0037 (20130101); B65D 2571/00141 (20130101); B65D
2571/00728 (20130101); B65D 2571/0066 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
5/00 (20060101); B65D 5/72 (20060101); B65D
25/04 (20060101); A47F 1/04 (20060101); B65D
17/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;229/120.18,122.1,122,242 ;221/302,305 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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93 07 457.3 |
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Jul 1993 |
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DE |
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399936 |
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Nov 1990 |
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EP |
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2 287 697 |
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Sep 1995 |
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GB |
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2 408 039 |
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May 2005 |
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GB |
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WO 9116246 |
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Oct 1991 |
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WO |
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WO 2005/051781 |
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Jun 2005 |
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WO |
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Primary Examiner: Elkins; Gary E
Assistant Examiner: Byrd; Latrice
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Womble Carlyle Sandridge &
Rice, PLLC
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A carton, comprising: a back panel having a first top edge; a
first side panel adjacent to the back panel; a front panel adjacent
to the first side panel and having a second top edge; a dispenser
at least partially formed in the front panel; a second side panel
adjacent to the front panel and the back panel; a bottom panel; a
top panel; and a divider panel disposed within an interior of the
carton between the first and second side panels, wherein the
divider panel connects the front panel to the back panel, the
divider panel is generally parallel to the first side panel, the
divider panel has a lower edge that is offset from the bottom
panel, wherein the lower edge of the divider panel defines a relief
area between the lower edge and the bottom panel, the lower edge
extends between a lowermost point adjacent to the bottom panel and
an uppermost point that is above or adjacent to a top edge of the
dispenser and at least substantially all of the lower edge of the
divider panel is out of contact with the bottom panel, the divider
panel has a top edge that extends between and is at the same height
as the first top edge and the second top edge, and the divider
panel is foldably connected to the back panel by a fold line that
is of substantially the same height as the back panel.
2. The carton of claim 1, wherein the dispenser extends across the
front panel and into the first and second side panels.
3. The carton of claim 1, wherein the dispenser comprises a
pivotable flap disposed adjacent to the bottom panel.
4. The carton of claim 3, wherein a top edge of the pivotable flap
is pivotable outwardly away from the front panel.
5. The carton of claim 1, wherein the top edge of the divider panel
is adjacent to the top panel.
6. The carton of claim 1, wherein the divider panel extends
upwardly at an angle of at least five degrees away from the back
panel and toward the front panel.
7. The carton of claim 1, wherein the lower edge of the divider
panel is curved.
8. The carton of claim 1, wherein the lower edge of the divider
panel comprises a plurality of linear segments.
9. The carton of claim 1, further comprising a tear strip extending
around a perimeter of the carton adjacent to the top panel.
10. The carton of claim 1, wherein the back panel, the first side
panel, the front panel, the second side panel, the bottom panel,
and the top panel form a substantially parallelepipedal
structure.
11. The carton of claim 1, wherein the carton is constructed from
paperboard.
12. A carton, comprising: a back panel having a first top edge; a
first side panel adjacent to the back panel; a front panel adjacent
to the first side panel and having a second top edge; a second side
panel adjacent to the front panel and the back panel; a bottom
panel adjacent to the back panel, the first side panel, the front
panel and the second side panel; a top panel adjacent to the back
panel, the first side panel, the front panel and the second side
panel; a dispenser at least partially formed in a lower portion of
the front panel; and a divider panel disposed within an interior of
the carton between the first and second side panels and dividing
the interior of the carton into two columns, wherein the divider
panel is adjacent to the top panel and connects the front panel to
the back panel, the divider panel is generally parallel to the
first side panel, the divider panel has a lower edge that is offset
from the bottom panel and at least substantially all of the lower
edge of the divider panel is out of contact with the bottom panel,
the divider panel has a top edge that extends between and is at the
same height as the first top edge and the second top edge, and the
lower edge of the divider panel defines a relief area between the
divider panel and the bottom panel, the lower edge extends between
a lowermost point adjacent to the bottom panel an uppermost point
above or adjacent to a top edge of the dispenser.
13. The carton of claim 12, wherein the dispenser extends across
the front panel and into the first and second side panels.
14. The carton of claim 12, wherein the divider panel is foldably
connected to the back panel at a fold line that is of substantially
the same height as the back panel.
15. The carton of claim 14, wherein the lower edge extends upwardly
at an angle of at least five degrees away from the lowermost point
to the uppermost point.
16. The carton of claim 14, wherein the lower edge of the divider
panel is curved.
17. The carton of claim 14, wherein the lower edge of the divider
panel comprises a plurality of linear segments.
18. The carton of claim 12, wherein the carton is constructed from
paperboard and the lower edge extends across an entire width of the
divider panel.
19. A carton blank, comprising: at least one back panel having a
first top edge at a first marginal portion of the blank; a first
side panel; a front panel having a second top edge at the first
marginal portion of the blank; a dispenser cut pattern at least
partially formed in the front panel; a second side panel; at least
one top flap extending along the first marginal portion of the
blank; at least one bottom flap extending along a second marginal
portion of the blank and foldably connected to a remainder of the
blank at a bottom fold line; and a divider panel, wherein the
divider panel has a lower edge that extends away from the bottom
fold line towards the first marginal portion of the blank, wherein
the divider panel is foldably connected to the at least one back
panel by a back fold line that is of substantially the same height
as the back panel, the divider panel is for being generally
parallel to the first side wall when the blank is formed into a
carton, the divider panel has a top edge extending across the
entire width of the divider panel that is aligned with the first
top edge and the second top edge such that the height of the
divider panel is substantially equal to the height of the at least
one back panel and the front panel, wherein in a carton formed from
the blank, the at least one back panel, the first side panel, the
front panel, the second side panel, the bottom panel, and the top
panel form a parallelepipedal structure, the at least one bottom
flap extending along the second marginal portion of the blank forms
a bottom panel, the divider panel connects the front panel to the
back panel, and the lower edge of the divider panel is offset from
the bottom panel wherein at least substantially all of the lower
edge of the divider panel is out of contact with the bottom
panel.
20. The blank of claim 19, further comprising an adhesive flap
foldably connected to the divider panel.
21. The blank of claim 19, wherein the blank comprises a first
sheet and a second sheet overlapping the first sheet.
22. A carton blank, comprising: a first side panel; a front panel
foldably connected to the first side panel and having a first top
edge at a first marginal portion of the blank; a second side panel
foldably connected to the front panel; at least one back panel
having a second top edge at the first marginal portion of the
blank; a divider panel foldably connected to the at least one back
panel, wherein the divider panel is generally parallel to the first
side panel in a carton formed from the blank, the divider panel
having a top edge extending across the entire width of the divider
panel and that is aligned with the first top edge and the second
top edge such that the height of the first divider panel is
substantially equal to the height of the at least one back panel
and the front panel; at least one top flap extending across the
first marginal portion of the blank and foldably connected at a
first longitudinal fold line; a dispenser at least partially formed
in the front panel; and at least one bottom flap extending across a
second marginal portion of the blank and foldably connected at a
second longitudinal fold line, wherein the divider panel has a
lower edge that extends between a first point adjacent to the at
least one back panel and the second longitudinal fold line at the
second marginal portion of the blank, and a second point spaced
apart from the second marginal portion of the blank, wherein in a
carton formed from the blank, the at least one back panel, the
first side panel, the front panel, the second side panel, the
bottom panel, and the top panel form a parallelepipedal structure,
the at least one flap extending along a second marginal portion of
the blank forms a bottom panel, the divider panel connects the
front panel to the back panel, and the lower edge of the divider
panel is offset from the bottom panel to define a relief area
between the divider panel and the bottom panel wherein at least
substantially all of the lower edge of the divider panel is out of
contact with the bottom panel.
23. The blank of claim 22, wherein the blank is constructed from
paperboard.
24. The blank of claim 23, wherein the blank comprises a first
sheet and a second sheet overlapping the first sheet.
25. A substantially parallelepipedal paperboard carton, comprising:
a first back panel; a second back panel connected to the first back
panel the connected first and second back panels having cooperating
top edges that form a first top edge; a first side panel foldably
connected to the first back panel; a front panel adjacent to the
first side panel and having a second top edge; a second side panel
adjacent to the front panel and foldably connected to the second
back panel; a bottom panel adjacent to the first and second back
panels, the first and second side panels, and the front panel; a
top panel adjacent to the first and second back panels, the first
and second side panels, and the front panel; a dispenser at least
partially formed in a lower portion of the front panel; and a
divider panel disposed within an interior of the carton between the
first and second side panels and dividing the carton interior into
vertical columns, wherein the divider panel is foldably connected
to one of the first back panel and the second back panel, the
divider panel is generally parallel to the first side panel, a top
edge of the divider panel is adjacent to the top panel and extends
between and is at the same height as the first top edge and the
second top edge, the divider panel has a lower edge that is offset
from the bottom panel wherein at least substantially all of the
lower edge of the divider panel is out of contact with the bottom
panel, and the lower edge of the divider panel defines a relief
area between the divider panel and the bottom panel, the lower edge
extends between a lowermost point adjacent to the bottom panel an
uppermost point above or adjacent to a top edge of the
dispenser.
26. The carton of claim 25, wherein the top edge of the divider
panel is of substantially the same height as the carton.
27. The carton of claim 1, wherein the lower edge extends across an
entire width of the divider panel.
28. The blank of claim 22, wherein the first point corresponds to a
location wherein the divider panel has a maximum height and the
second point corresponds to a location wherein the divider panel
has a minimum height.
29. The carton of claim 12, wherein the bottom panel forms a bottom
exterior surface of the carton.
Description
BACKGROUND
Dispensing cartons are known. Known cartons have a box structure
and a dispenser opening at the bottom of the carton. Items may be
stacked within the carton and withdrawn through the dispensing
opening. Dispensing cartons may also be provided with an interior
divider panel that divides the interior of the carton into vertical
columns. The divider panel allows articles to be stacked within
separate columns within the carton, and provides added strength
when the carton is subjected to axial loads.
Known divider panels do not provide optimal strength, however,
because as the carton is compressed and the divider panel presses
against the bottom panel of the carton, the divider panel has a
tendency to bend or deflect at its lower edge. Deflection of part
of the divider panel outside of the plane of the divider panel
reduces its axial stiffness, which in turn reduces the stiffness of
the carton under compressive loads. Because dispensing cartons are
typically stacked in several tiers during shipping and storage,
strength in compression is critical.
SUMMARY
According to a first embodiment, a carton comprises a back panel, a
first side panel, a front panel, a second side panel, a bottom
panel, a top panel, and a divider panel. The divider panel is
disposed within an interior of the carton, and connects the front
panel to the back panel. The lower edge of the divider panel may be
at least substantially offset from the bottom panel. In some
embodiments, the divider panel may be completely offset from the
bottom panel.
According to the first embodiment, axial compression of the carton
is less likely to result in bending or buckling of the divider
panel. The divider panel therefore provides greater axial stiffness
to the carton. Also, the divider panel can include a relief area
that allows better access to articles held within the carton.
Other aspects, features, and details of the present invention can
be more completely understood by reference to the following
detailed description of preferred embodiments taken in conjunction
with the drawings and from the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a blank used to form a carton according to
a first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an erection step of the carton.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an erection step of the carton.
FIG. 4 is a left side perspective view of the erected carton.
FIG. 5 is a right side perspective view of the erected carton.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the carton with the dispenser
partially open and the top panel removed.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the carton with the dispenser fully
opened.
FIG. 8 is a section view taken on line 8-8 in FIG. 6.
FIG. 9 is a plan view of a blank used to form a carton according to
a second embodiment.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the second carton embodiment.
FIG. 11A is a partial section schematic view illustrating the
relationship between an alternate divider panel and a bottom
panel.
FIG. 11B is a partial section schematic view illustrating the
relationship between a second alternate divider panel and a bottom
panel.
FIG. 11C is a partial section schematic view illustrating the
relationship between a third alternate divider panel and a bottom
panel.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a first, interior side 5 of a blank 8 used
to form a carton 150 (illustrated in FIG. 5) according to a first
embodiment. The first side 5 will be disposed in the interior of
the erected carton 150. The blank 8 may have, for example, a
two-ply configuration formed from a first sheet 10 adhered to a
second sheet 12. For example, the second sheet 12 can have a height
H and can be adhered or otherwise secured to a central portion of
the first sheet 10. The length of the first and second sheets 10,
12, measured from left to right in FIG. 1, can be substantially
equal.
The blank 8 comprises a first back panel 20 foldably connected to a
first side panel 30 at a first transverse fold line 22, a front
panel 40 foldably connected to the first side panel 30 at a second
transverse fold line 32, a second side panel 50 foldably connected
to the front panel 40 at a third transverse fold line 42, a second
back panel 60 foldably connected to the second side panel 50 at a
fourth transverse fold line 52, and a divider panel 70 foldably
connected to the second back panel 60 at a fifth transverse fold
line 62. The divider panel 70 may be foldably connected to an
adhesive flap 75 at a sixth transverse fold line 72. The fold line
72 may include, for example, one or more spaced cuts to facilitate
folding at the fold line.
The first back panel 20 is foldably connected to a first top flap
23 at a first top longitudinal fold line 24, and foldably connected
to a first bottom flap 26 at a first bottom longitudinal fold line
27. The first side panel 30 is foldably connected to a second top
flap 33 at a second top longitudinal fold line 34, and foldably
connected to a second bottom flap 36 at a second bottom
longitudinal fold line 37. The front panel 40 is foldably connected
to a third top flap 43 at a third top longitudinal fold line 44,
and foldably connected to a third bottom flap 46 at a third bottom
longitudinal fold line 47. The second side panel 50 is foldably
connected to a fourth top flap 53 at a fourth top longitudinal fold
line 54, and foldably connected to a fourth bottom flap 56 at a
fourth bottom longitudinal fold line 57. The second back panel 60
is foldably connected to a fifth top flap 63 at a fifth top
longitudinal fold line 64, and foldably connected to a fifth bottom
flap 66 at a fifth bottom longitudinal fold line 67. The third
bottom longitudinal fold line 47 may include, for example, one or
more cuts (not shown) to facilitate bending at the fold line. The
flaps 23, 33, 43, 53, 63 extend along a first or top marginal area
of the blank 8, and the flaps 26, 36, 46, 56, 66 extend along a
second or bottom marginal area of the blank 8.
The fold lines 24, 34, 44, 54, 64 may be collinear, and are formed
in the first sheet 10, extending parallel to a top edge of the
second sheet 12. The fold lines 26, 36, 46, 56, 66 may also be
collinear, formed in the first sheet 10, and extending parallel to
a bottom edge of the second sheet 12. When the carton 150 is
erected, the flaps 23, 33, 43, 53, 63 close a top opening of the
carton 150, and the flaps 26, 36, 46, 56, 66 close a bottom opening
of the carton 150.
A dispenser 100 is formed in the blank 8 by a dispenser cut pattern
102. The dispenser cut pattern 102 includes a longitudinally
extending upper portion 104, a first arcuate side portion 106, a
longitudinally extending lower portion 108, a second arcuate side
portion 110, and an access cutout 112 located directly above an
access flap 114. The access flap 114 is defined by first and second
cut lines 118, 120 and is foldable at a fold line 116. The portions
104, 106, 108, 110 and the access cutout 112 define an upper
dispenser flap 101 of the dispenser 100.
The dispenser cut pattern 102 also includes first and second
arcuate base cut lines 124, 126 and first and second pivot cut
lines 131, 132. The first and second base cut lines 124, 126 extend
downwardly from the lower portion 108 to the fold lines 37, 57,
respectively. The first pivot cut line 131 extends from the fold
line 37, at a point adjacent to the first base cut line 124, into
the second bottom flap 36. The second pivot cut line 132 extends
from the fold line 57, at a point adjacent to the second base cut
line 126, into the fourth bottom flap 56. The base cut lines 124,
126 and the pivot cut lines 131, 132 define a pivotable bottom flap
128 of the dispenser 100. The cuts forming the dispenser cut
pattern 102 may extend, for example, through the entire thickness
of the blank 8.
The divider panel 70 has a lower edge 76 that may be inclined at an
angle .alpha. with respect to an extension line l of the fold lines
27, 37, 47, 57, 67. The inclination angle .alpha. of the lower edge
76 offsets the lower edge 76 from the line l, creating a relief
area 78 beneath the lower edge 76. The offset of the lower edge 76
serves to increase the axial compressive strength of the erected
carton 150, as will be discussed in further detail below.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the carton 150 partially erected.
In practice, the blank may remain generally flat during this stage
of erection, with 180 degree folding occurring at the fold line 52.
For the purpose of illustrating the final orientation of the
divider panel 70, however, FIG. 2 shows the blank folded about fold
lines 52, 62 and 72. Prior to folding the blank, glue or other
adhesive is applied to the adhesive flap 75 as indicated by the
stippling in FIG. 1, and to the first back panel 20 at the location
indicated by the stippling 21. The blank is then folded so that the
adhesive flap 75 comes into contact with the front panel 40.
Referring to FIG. 3, the first back panel 20 is folded over so that
the glue at location 21 contacts a rear of the second back panel
60, and the folded blank 8 is held in its folded state while the
glue dries. The folded blank 8 is then opened to obtain the tubular
configuration shown in FIG. 3.
Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the bottom flaps 26, 36, 46, 56, 66 are
folded inwardly and glued in place to form a bottom panel 130, and
the top flaps 23, 33, 43, 53, 63 are folded inwardly and glued to
form a top panel 140, thereby completing the carton 150. The first
and second back panels 20, 60 are joined to form a back panel 160.
Dispensable articles (not shown) may be placed in the carton 150
prior to forming either or both of the bottom and top panels 130,
140. In the erected carton 150, the back edge of the divider panel
70 may generally be of the same height as the back panel 160, and
the top edge of the divider panel 70 will be adjacent to, and may
abut, the top panel 140.
FIG. 5 is right side perspective view of the erected carton 150,
and illustrates an optional cut pattern 35 in the first side panel
30. The cut pattern 35 may be included to facilitate removal of a
top portion of the carton 150, as discussed in detail below.
Opening of the carton 150 will now be discussed with reference to
FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. 6 illustrates the carton 150 with the top panel
140 removed and the dispenser panel 100 partially opened. The top
panel 140 can be removed, for example, by cutting around the top
portion of the carton 150 with a cutting tool. Alternatively, a
tear strip or other line of disruption (not shown), such as a tear
line or a series of cut or score lines, can be formed around an
upper perimeter of the carton 150 to facilitate removal of the top
of the carton 150. Referring to FIG. 5, removal of the top panel
140 may be begun by pressing in the side panel 30 above the cut
pattern 35 to open a hole in the side panel 30. A cutting tool can
then be inserted at the opening formed at the cut pattern 35 and
the top of the carton 150 can be removed using the cutting tool.
Alternatively, if tear lines or other lines of disruption are
formed around the carton perimeter, depressing the side panel 30 at
the cut pattern 35 allows a person to pull the top of the carton
150 off at the tear lines. Referring to FIG. 6, the dispenser 100
is opened by grasping the access flap 114 (shown in FIG. 4) and
tearing along the tear pattern 102.
Referring to FIG. 7, the dispenser 100 may be further opened by
pivoting the bottom flap 128 forward by separating the flap 128 at
the first and second base cut lines 124, 126. The flap 128 pivots
about the first and second pivot cut lines 131, 132. The pivoted
bottom flap 128 effectively widens the opening of the dispenser 100
and allows articles to be more easily removed from the carton
150.
FIG. 8 is a section view taken on line 8-8 in FIG. 6. FIG. 8
illustrates the angle of inclination .alpha. and the relief area 78
defined between the lower edge 76 of the divider panel 70 and the
bottom panel 130. As shown in FIG. 8, at least a majority of the
lower edge 76 of the divider panel 70 may be at least substantially
out of contact with the bottom panel 130.
The divider panel 70, the back edge of which has a height
substantially equal to the height of the carton 150, sustains a
portion of axial loads exerted on the carton 150. Because the
divider panel 70 is offset from the bottom panel 130, as the carton
150 is axially compressed by forces exerted on the bottom and top
panels 130, 140, the divider panel 70 is more likely to remain in
an unflexed or unbent state, and therefore resists deflection to
either side. The undeflected divider panel 70 provides greater
axial stiffness to the carton 150 than a divider panel having a
bottom edge out of plane with the remainder of the divider panel.
This aspect is especially advantageous when a large number of
cartons 150 are vertically stacked, such as for shipping
purposes.
According to the present embodiments, the angle of inclination
.alpha. can be selected to optimize the strength of the carton 150
in compression. The angle .alpha. may be in the range of, for
example, about 5-75 degrees. In other embodiments, the range may be
about 20-60 degrees. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-8, the
angle .alpha. is about 45 degrees. The angle of inclination .alpha.
of the lower edge 76 also allows a consumer or other user to more
easily remove articles from the dispenser 100 when the dispenser is
open.
FIG. 9 is a plan view of a first, interior side 205 of a blank 208
used to form a carton 250 (illustrated in FIG. 10) according to a
second embodiment. The blank 208 is substantially similar to the
blank 8 illustrated in FIG. 1, and like elements in the two
embodiments are indicated by like reference numbers, with reference
numbers in FIGS. 9 and 10 being preceded by a `2`. The blank 208
includes a tear strip 224 extending along a top marginal portion of
the blank, parallel to a top edge of the second sheet 212.
Referring to FIG. 10, the tear strip 224 facilitates removal of the
top panel of the erected carton 250. Also, the bottom flap 246
connected to the front panel 240 is longer than the bottom flap 46
shown in FIG. 1. The bottom flap 246 has a length such that it may
extend from the front to the rear of the erected carton 250.
FIG. 11A is a partial section schematic view illustrating the
relationship between an alternate divider panel 370 and a bottom
panel 330. The divider panel 370 has a concave arcuate lower edge
376 which may be offset from the bottom panel 330.
FIG. 11B is a partial section schematic view illustrating the
relationship between a second alternate divider panel 470 and a
bottom panel 430. The divider panel 470 has a convex arcuate lower
edge 476 which may be offset from the bottom panel 430.
FIG. 11C is a partial section schematic view illustrating the
relationship between a third alternate divider panel 570 and a
bottom panel 530. The divider panel 570 has a lower edge 576 formed
from several linear segments. Each of the linear segments may be
offset from the bottom panel 530.
In the above embodiments, the divider panels are substantially out
of contact with the bottom panels of the erected cartons.
In accordance with the exemplary embodiments, the cartons may be
constructed of paperboard, for example. The paperboard sheets used
to form the blank may be thicker and heavier than ordinary paper.
The blanks, and thus the cartons, can also be constructed of other
materials, such as cardboard, or any other material having
properties suitable for enabling the carton to function at least
generally as described above. In the exemplary embodiments
discussed above, the blanks are formed from coated solid unbleached
sulfate (SUS) board. In general, the SUS board may have a caliper
in the range of about 18-30. In one embodiment, the caliper is 26.
The blanks can also be laminated to or coated with one or more
sheet-like materials at selected panels or panel sections.
One or more panels of the blanks discussed above can be coated with
varnish, clay, or other materials, either alone or in combination.
The coating may then be printed over with product, advertising, and
other information or images. The blanks may also be coated to
protect any information printed on the blank. The blanks may be
coated with, for example, a moisture barrier layer, on either or
both sides of the blanks.
In accordance with the exemplary embodiments, a fold line can be
any substantially linear, although not necessarily straight, form
of weakening that facilitates folding therealong. More
specifically, but not for the purpose of narrowing the scope of the
present invention, fold lines include: a score line, such as lines
formed with a blunt scoring knife, or the like, which creates a
crushed portion in the material along the desired line of weakness;
a cut that extends partially into a material along the desired line
of weakness, and/or a series of cuts that extend partially into
and/or completely through the material along the desired line of
weakness; and various combinations of these features. In situations
where cutting is used to create a fold line, typically the cutting
will not be overly extensive in a manner that might cause a
reasonable user to incorrectly consider the fold line to be a tear
line.
The above embodiments may be described as having one or panels
adhered together by glue. The term "glue" is intended to encompass
all manner of adhesives commonly used to secure carton panels in
place.
For purposes of the description presented herein, the term "line of
disruption" can be used to generally refer to either a cut line, a
tear line, or a fold line formed in the material (or a combination
of at least one cut line, tear line, or fold line)
The foregoing description of the invention illustrates and
describes the present invention. Additionally, the disclosure shows
and describes only selected preferred embodiments of the invention,
but it is to be understood that the invention is capable of use in
various other combinations, modifications, and environments and is
capable of changes or modifications within the scope of the
inventive concept as expressed herein, commensurate with the above
teachings, and/or within the skill or knowledge of the relevant
art.
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